Best of Erie 2023: 10 Years of Winners

Jessica Hunter / Contributed

Among those businesses and organizations who won their categories in the Best of Erie Awards for 10 years running are, clockwise from top left, Greengarden Lanes for Best Bowling Alley, Erie Federal Credit Union for Best Bank, Barber Beast on the Bay for Best Athletic Competition, Bianchi Honda for Best Car Dealership, and Art's Bakery for Best Bakery.

This year's publication of the 2023 Best of Erie Awards marks the 10th anniversary of these crowdsourced honors. Once again, the people of the Erie region have assumed the annual duty of nominating and voting for the best people, places, and things in Erie — and each year the cream rises to the top. That's the case for the following businesses and nonprofits which have won their respective categories for 10 years running. That kind of customer loyalty reflects consistency of service and means that these establishments are truly the best that Erie has to offer. It is our pleasure to show them a little extra love for all of the love they have shown to our region throughout the decade. (Listed alphabetically by category)

Best Athletic Competition: Barber Beast on the Bay

Erieites love showing up for a good cause, and this annual "American Gladiator" style athletic competition is one that so many people support that it has been voted Best Athletic Competition for 10 years running. Organized every year to benefit Erie's Barber National Institute, the group's mission is to "provide children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral health challenges and their families the education, support, and resources needed to be self-reliant, independent, and valued members of their community."

This competition is not for the faint of heart: it is a physical gauntlet of challenges stretching over 10 miles of Presque Isle State Park featuring more than 30 obstacles. The competition also features a one-mile adapted course at nearby Waldameer Park, so those with physical or intellectual disabilities can also join the challenge. Maybe this is the year you'll feel inspired to tackle the Beast, all for a great community cause.

Best Bakery: Art's Bakery

A mainstay on West Ridge Road, Art's Bakery built its business and reputation on the legacy of Art Evans, who founded the bakery in 1950. With delectable treats like specialty cookies, breads, and pies, the familiarity and quality of the baked goods at Art's have stayed consistent through a recent change in ownership. And that consistency has resulted in Art's continuing to win the hearts (and taste buds) of local Best of Erie voters, as it has swept the category for 10 years running.

Best Bank: Erie Federal Credit Union

It's clear to Best of Erie voters that when it comes to choosing their favorite bank, they'd rather not choose a bank at all. Erie Federal Credit Union (EFCU) reminds us, "When you join Erie Federal Credit Union, you become a member, not a customer. As a member-owner, the focus is on serving you and your financial needs. Unlike banks, credit union profits are returned to you through better rates and lower fees. EFCU was formed to serve our members, not to earn profits for shareholders."

It's this commitment to service – putting their members first and keeping money within the local community – that has inspired Best of Erie voters to cast their ballot for EFCU for the past 10 years. Local business owner Missy Monacella relates in a testimonial about EFCU, "I am impressed with their staff and even more impressed that they remembered my name the next time I visited. That never happened at [my previous] bank. EFCU has friendly and efficient professionals. They helped me get my business banking on track and made our new home-buying process as simple as possible. I highly recommend EFCU!"

Best Bowling Alley: Greengarden Lanes

Originally established in 1957, Greengarden Lanes offers more than just some bowling lanes on which to practice your roll – it offers, according to their website, "a full-blown bowling experience." For a business to consistently succeed over 65 years (including winning Best Bowling Alley for the past 10), it has to grow, adapt, and stay relevant while still holding on to the foundations of its success. Not always an easy task, but Greengarden Lanes has achieved that by offering bowling lessons, top-rated equipment for sale, organized bowling leagues for all age groups and skill levels, birthday bowling parties for adults and children alike, and "Rock and Bowl" events, all in a family-friendly facility with well-maintained lanes and technology.

Best Car Dealership: Bianchi Honda

It's not just the voters for Best of Erie who think Bianchi Honda (located at 8430 Peach St.) is the Best Car Dealership in Erie since the inception of the awards in 2014 – Bianchi was named the number one Honda dealer in Pennsylvania in 2022 and is a 24-time winner of the Honda President's award, 2022's DealerRater Consumer Satisfaction Award Winner, and a BBB Torch Award winner for Marketplace Ethics. But it's not just awards and accolades that make Bianchi Honda outstanding in their field, it is their dedication to maintaining a "no-pressure, family-owned dealership that puts the customer first."

If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality new or used vehicle, or need to utilize the service department for whatever reason, Bianchi Honda is dedicated to creating a good customer experience. Customers consistently report on their positive interactions at Bianchi, stating "I felt like I was their only customer of the day;" "They were very attentive to my needs, not pushy, and worked well trying to get us the best deal;" and "the customer is always treated with respect and dignity."

10 time winners of Best of Erie awards in their respective categories, the Erie Reader congratulates (Clockwise from top left) The ANNA Shelter in Best Place to Adopt a Pet, The Sassy Peacock in Best Consignment Store, The Erie Food Co-op in Best Health Food Store, Panache in Best Salon, and Romolo Chocolates in Best Chocolate. (Photos: Jessica Hunter)

Best Chocolates or Candy: Romolo Chocolates

The people of Erie clearly have great taste, as they've consistently voted Romolo Chocolates to the number one spot in the Best Chocolates or Candy category for 10 years in a row. In their expansive facility producing the freshest chocolates and confections, the brain behind the candies, Master Confectioner Tony Stefanelli, has been "making and seeking knowledge about candy for more than 48 years, apprenticing under his grandfather Romolo Stefanelli at the start of his career." It was through longstanding family tradition that the Erie phenomenon of sponge candy came to be as ubiquitous in our region as it is.

Within their footprint on West Eighth Street, Romolo's has succeeded in producing high-quality chocolates and candies, while also providing a gathering place in their Cocoa Cafe which offers authentic Italian coffee drinks, homemade ice creams, and desserts alongside a retail store with gifts, art, and Erie-centric souvenirs. A visit to Romolo Chocolates is a feast for the senses and all of Erie agrees – it's unbeatable.

Best Consignment Shop: The Sassy Peacock

Only accepting the best is what has helped make The Sassy Peacock Erie's favorite Consignment Shop for an entire decade. Celebrating 18 years in the consignment business, the Sassy Peacock on Pittsburgh Avenue has made a success out of resale. According to their website, "Shopping can be a form of therapy: resale therapy to be exact! You will certainly find many designer labels to choose from at The Sassy Peacock to update your closet, but regardless of our supply of designer names, we are rather picky and only accept and select items that still have lots of life in them and are in style; that is the Sassy difference!"

Whether you're looking for hard-to-find, unique clothing items, a good bargain on a name-brand piece of apparel, or quality, helpful service from their hardworking team, Erie agrees: you can't go wrong by checking out what's in stock at the Sassy Peacock.

Best Health Food Store: Erie Food Co-op

A cooperative in the truest sense, the Erie Food Co-op is owned by the community and, unlike most other grocery stores or retail establishments, they have a mission: "to serve our community as the foremost provider of foods and products that enrich health and well-being, while cultivating a spirit of community through excellent service and education." And that mission is the backbone of bringing healthy, as-local-as-possible food to the members of the co-op (as well as the community at large – you don't have to be a member to shop the co-op)!

The Erie Food Co-op also features one of the only and, most certainly, the largest bulk departments in Erie, allowing customers to get bulk grains, coffee, dried fruits, nuts, herbs, spices, soap, honey, flour, nut butters, cereals, and more, all without additional packaging – contributing to the health of our planet as well as the health of their customers.

Whether you shop the Co-op for health foods, local or organic produce, bulk foods, natural household or health and beauty products, thoughtfully prepared deli foods, local dairy and eggs, wholesome supplements, or any of the other products available, Erie agrees, the Erie Food Co-op is the best health food store around and has been for at least the past 10 years (although they've been serving the Erie community since 1981).

Best Place to Adopt a Pet: The ANNA Shelter

While all of the animal shelters and rescue organizations in Erie do an incredible job at housing, rehabilitating, caring for, and adopting out the homeless pets in our region, the ANNA Shelter (which stands for the Association for Needy and Neglected Animals) has stood out above the others as Erie's clear go-to when it's time to bring home a new pet.

The organization's mission is "to provide unwanted, stray, abused, or neglected animals with a safe, nurturing, loving environment where they can be either reunited with their owners or placed into new, lifelong, loving homes." They care for stray pets, operate an animal cruelty investigation department, and accept owner surrenders of unwanted animals. They have multiple pet wellness centers that provide routine health checks, vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries, and dental care at a discounted price. They have programs established in which adoptable animals visit senior centers, a program connecting veterans with companion animals, and educational outreach through school visits and pet CPR classes. Their place within the community is necessary and priceless, and the people of Erie appreciate their service.

Best Salon: Panache

When you look your best, you feel your best. And the people of Erie agree: the place that will have you looking and feeling your best is Panache. For the past 10 years, Panache has swept the "Best Salon" category in our Best of Erie contest for its commitment to customer satisfaction, quality service, and providing a professional atmosphere. All of the stylists employed by Panache are certified in advanced hairstyling and hair design artistry.

In addition to top-notch hair styling services, Panache is also a full-service day spa, offering a multitude of options including manicures, pedicures, facials, body wraps, waxing, lash, brow, and makeup services, aromatherapy, massage, cupping, as well as wedding hair and makeup preparations. The folks at Panache are also expanding their local beauty reach with the opening of nearby Simply Coco in the West Erie Plaza, offering a variety of skin care and MedSpa services. Give yourself the gift of self-care and a fresh new look, and see what the people of Erie are so excited about at Panache.

Winners of their Best of Erie categories since the inception of the awards in 2014 include (Clockwise from top left): The Erie Otters for Best Team to Root For, Coventina Day Spa for Best Spa, Epic Web Studios for Best Web Developer, Penn State Behrend for Best College or University, and YogaErie for Best Yoga Studio. (Photos: Jessica Hunter / Contributed)

Best Spa: Coventina Day Spa

Coventina Day Spa has been a part of the Erie community for decades and has recently come under new ownership, which has included an expansion into the med spa realm. The new owners, Drs. Chris and Dawn Karns, have built upon the established stalwart reputation for quality service and have grown the successful legacy of Coventina.

While still offering traditional day spa services like facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, and hair styling, they also offer a full line of med-spa treatments like laser hair reduction, injectables and fillers, hair restoration, hyperhidrosis, incontinence and vaginal rejuvenation, anti-aging and color correction, and acne and scarring treatments. The people of Erie know their go-to when it comes to rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation, and that's been Coventina for the past 10 years.

Best Team to Root For: Erie Otters

There's certainly a lot to love about Erie, but the long winters full of gray days and freezing temperatures are enough to deflate even Erie's biggest fans. Enter the Erie Otters giving us all a reason to get out, get excited, and cheer on our local team throughout the winter season. And Otters fans feel passionate about their team, voting the local hockey outfit as their favorite team to root for for 10 years running!

Whether it's the thrill of the game, the atmosphere of the Erie Insurance Arena, the enthusiastic mascot OTTO, the poutine, or the Zamboni that gets you going, one thing's for sure: the Erie Otters make for an exciting winter night out with family and friends.

Best University: Penn State Behrend

The Erie region is fortunate to have several local colleges and universities to bolster our local economy, but one university stands out above the rest – Penn State Behrend has won the category of Best University each year for a decade.

With the resources and affordability of the large state university system of Penn State, Behrend offers area students the opportunities of a bigger school while maintaining the familiarity and intimate feel of a smaller, local option. Behrend's outreach in the community is also part of the reason for their continued success in the Best of Erie contest: offering youth outreach, summer camps, and cultural and science-related fairs open and free to the public. WE ARE Penn State Behrend!

Best Web Developer: Epic Web Studios

Epic Web Studios are homegrown web-design heroes, starting very small and very local and quickly expanding to become "a full-service digital marketing firm that envisions, builds, and manages web-based solutions for organizations throughout North America."

Their talented local staff specializes in paid and organic search engine optimization (SEO), content strategy and development, and website design, development, and maintenance.

With hundreds of satisfied clients, Epic Web Studios is fully equipped to bring their customers the best possible experience in building the website they envision for their business or nonprofit.

If you need a well-designed, bug-free, smoothly-running website (such as eriereader.com) with prompt, reliable service and a knowledgeable, up-to-date crew backing everything up, Epic Web Studios is Erie's clear choice and has been for the past 10 years.

Best Yoga Studio: YogaErie

When Erie yogis want to hit the mat, they have a preferred studio in YogaErie, which has won the Best Yoga Studio category for 10 years in a row. Conveniently located in the Shops at the Colony, YogaErie has a class for every ability and need. Individual or group classes are available in all levels and types including basic beginner, power yoga, yin yoga, prenatal and postpartum yoga, as well as kids classes.

The studio was born in 2009, out of owner Jill Crawford Murphey's struggle to find hot yoga classes locally. Since then, her practice has grown to include 15 teachers with over 25 classes available including special events, workshops, and retreats. Whether you're just starting or are already a seasoned yogi, YogaErie has an offering for you. Namaste.